(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
The 2023 MLB All-Star festivities in Seattle, at T-Mobile Park, are nearing an end.
The 2023 Celebrity Softball All-Star Game is already behind us and it was a blast.
The Futures Game, involving baseball’s best prospects, was also a success.
The Home Run Derby took place on Monday, with a convincing victory by Toronto Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Local hero Julio Rodriguez, the star of the Seattle Mariners, put on a show, though.
J-Rod was the star of the 2022 Derby even though he didn’t win.
You could say a similar situation unfolded on Monday.
He hit, by far, the most home runs of the quarterfinals phase with 41.
Needless to say, he won his matchup against two-time champ Pete Alonso in convincing fashion.
Unfortunately, Rodriguez lost to Guerrero in the semifinals.
He tweeted a thank you message to Seattle fans who were there to support him.
“Mariners fans, I know we didn’t come out on top but you guys made this experience at the home run derby unbelievable, you guys are truly the best and thank you for always supporting me through it all! #noplacelikehome,” he wrote.
Mariners fans , I know we didn’t come out on top but you guys made this experience at the home run derby unbelievable, you guys are truly the best and thank you for always supporting me through it all! #noplacelikehome
— Julio Rodriguez (@JRODshow44) July 11, 2023
While Rodriguez’s rate stats have been rather disappointing at .249/.310/.411, he does have 13 home runs and 22 stolen bases.
Last year, he hit 28 balls out of the park.
He is a bit off that pace, but J-Rod has shown us in the past that when he gets hot, he is truly locked-in and puts up video-game-like numbers.
He seems due for one of those hot streaks, so watch out.
The Mariners’ playoff hopes largely depend on what he can do in the second half.
The post Julio Rodriguez Shared A Heartfelt Message To The Hometown Fans appeared first on The Cold Wire.